Closed meeting slated on leave for Southbridge superintendent

Following Wednesday’s vote to place Superintendent Eric D. Ely on paid administrative leave, the School Committee scheduled an executive session meeting Tuesday “to consider the discipline or dismissal of, or to hear complaints or charges” against a public officer.

Meanwhile, there was also discontent late last week at the new Southbridge Middle/High School on Torrey Road, where high school students waged an alliterative protest using fliers titled, “Bring Bishop Back.”

It was an ode to former High School Principal William K. Bishop, whose position was eliminated by Mr. Ely over the summer, when the district opened the building and named Tammy M. Perreault principal of the school for Grades 6 to 12.

Mr. Ely, whose name was removed from letterhead on the latest meeting agenda, said in a text message he couldn’t respond to allegations that hadn’t been presented to him. He referred questions to his lawyer, who did not respond to an email Thursday.

Last week’s vote was taken in response to a complaint of misconduct, but officials declined to elaborate.

Regarding the students, Acting Superintendent Terry Wiggin said yesterday he was convinced their frustration was less about the new principal and more about new policies that were perhaps poorly communicated, or existing policies that hadn’t been enforced until now.

For instance, this year administrators have been enforcing a rule about limiting artwork on walls in the hallways. Limits had already been set by Mr. Bishop in the student handbook, according to Mr. Wiggin, but the rule wasn’t enforced last year.

The new building, he explained, doesn’t necessarily lend itself to putting up posters in hallways.

“This falls on me as acting superintendent to enforce all those policies and procedures,” he said. “I think the school administration took a little bit of a hit because they were doing what they were told to do.”

Mr. Wiggin said it came to his attention through the administration that “a significant” number of students came to school with the Bishop signs.

The administration deemed the signs disruptive to learning, but wanted to honor students’ constitutional rights. After consulting with the district’s lawyer, Mr. Wiggin said he spoke to the students during lunch and allowed them to post the signs in the cafeteria. Administrators brought them tape.

The signs were taken down after lunch periods Friday, because Mr. Wiggin said this was long enough for classmates to view and consider the message, he said.

Mr. Wiggin commended the students for understanding they have free speech and their willingness to meet with the administration to put the concerns on the table.

Mr. Wiggin, whose permanent position is district director of finance and operations, wanted to assure the community that education and performance of the district, including its accelerated improvement plan, would move forward.

“My hope is I’ll have the district moving at a rate and pace that, when the interim moves in, he says, ‘I can pick this up and go.’ We’re not pausing here, we’re moving.”